'I'm happy to be known as Maine Pyar...girl'

Actress Bhagyashree, who made her presence felt after many years on reality dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, is not worried about her career graph because people still recall her as the demure girl in the 1989 hit Maine Pyar Kiya.

Actress Bhagyashree, who made her presence felt after many years on reality dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, is not worried because people still recall her as the demure girl in the 1989 hit Maine Pyar Kiya. She is happy to be remembered for her best work.

"See, people will always remember your best work. In fact, I feel blessed and thank god for my association with a film like Maine Pyaar Kiya, which is one of the good examples of filmmaking in India," Bhagyashree told IANS.

Asked if she ever felt bad that her other films and her work in later television serials went unnoticed as compared to the hit movie, she said: "People do say and remark: 'See, she is riding high on the waves of the film's success even now'. But it's not that I am unhappy about it. I am glad that I could be a part of an image that has stayed in people's minds for so many years."

In Maine Pyaar Kiya, a low-budget romantic film by Sooraj Barjatya, Bhagyashree was paired opposite superstar Salman Khan. It became a rage among the youngsters with its popular songs Kabutar jaa jaa, Dil deewana and Mere rang mein among others.

Asked if she is still in touch with her co-star, she said: "I am not in regular touch with Salman. But if we bump into each other at some event, we definitely talk."

Before Maine Pyaar Kiya, Bhagyashree was seen on a TV series called Kachchi Dhoop, but not many remember her for for her role in it. After the 1989 hit, she did films like Qaid Mein Hai Bulbul, Tyaagi, Payal and Humko Deewani Kar Gaye, which went unnoticed and her career saw a downward trend after she reportedly insisted on starring only opposite her husband, actor-turned-producer Himalaya Dasani.

Bhagyashree says she was seen in few films because she never ran after money and fame.

"I would rather be turned on by the script and subject and another factor that I always look for is working with people who are nice," she said.

The 40-year-old actress has recently starred in her first Marathi film Zhak Marli Bayko Keli. She is also working on a Hindi film titled Red Alert - The War Within in which she stars alongside Suniel Shetty.

So what makes Bhagyashree look as fresh as ever and raring to try out complex dance moves for a dance reality show even after two decades and two kids?

"It is the peace within my soul that has kept me looking fresh and young after so many years. I feel if a person feels positive within, positivity automatically reflects on the face and that's just the case with me," she said.